Let's K12 Better

There was a moment where I just stopped what I was doing to say, “This is ridiculous”. It was a Sunday like any other. I spent my “day off” taking a kid to practice, going to the grocery store, washing 10 loads of laundry, cooking dinner, and somehow getting a few extra hours in on a small project. Yes, that was all accomplished in one day. By the end of the day, my hands were shaking, I was dizzy, I had a headache, and I felt myself losing a grip on this “reality” I created for myself. It was an insane reality of unrealistic expectations that I had allowed myself to accept. Though none of these tasks were necessarily assigned to me, I knew that they needed to be done. And my body responded like any overworked machine- it was beginning to shut down. How did I get here?​

Life can get really busy for moms. We’re strapped with meeting the needs and demands of our family, our household, and our career. Besides this, moms are most often left to manage all of the “mental extras”- the daily schedules, the birthday parties, and figuring out what to do when stuff runs low in the refrigerator. And with the added expectation to nurture and care, moms often do so at the expense of their own health- physical, mental, emotional, and social. According to a survey conducted by HealthyWomen and Working Mother Magazine, 78% of respondents shared that they often put off taking care of themselves or neglected to make appointments for themselves. However an overwhelming number of respondents (86%) revealed they scheduled the majority of health care appointments for their kids. Moms are spending more time focused on their children’s health and not their own. This is not sustainable.

Here are a few tips to help moms on their wellness journey:

Ask for Help. If you’re like me, your family hasn’t quite perfected their telepathic skills yet. If the schedule is in your head, how can your partner help you? Display the family schedule somewhere, and then ask for assistance when things get tough. Asking for help is a courageous first step toward mental (and physical) health and wellness.

Take a Break. Go for a walk; take a moment for silent reflection; or just sit mindfully somewhere for a couple minutes. Sometimes all that is required is silence to bring a moment of clarity and perspective.

Seek Peace not Perfection. Mental health is wealth. Set reasonable and attainable goals for yourself. If something slips, don’t worry. But if you find yourself continually missing deadlines, opportunities, and promises, it might be time to reevaluate your goals as they relate to your routine.

Visit Your Doctor. Some of those aches and pains are just natural aging, but if you find yourself in long periods of pain or discomfort, you need to make an appointment. Speak honestly about the changes in your body with your doctor.

Let’s get real ladies. If mom goes down, most often the ship starts to sink. This is a reality that many of us face. Ask yourself, “Who is responsible for my wellness and well being?”. YOU ARE! Put the same amount of care that you put into your family, into yourself. Your family won’t suffer because of it, in fact, your family will thrive because they have a healthy person at the helm.

Which tips are you going to implement this week? Share any additional tips in the comments!